North Shields strengthened their position in the race for the championship with a 3-1 victory at Ryhope CW, while leaders Birtley Town went down to Cleadon SC.

Following their splendid midweek win against Stokesley SC, Birtley disappointed and eventually succumbed to a late winner by Cleadon SC, who remain third.

Peter Brand gave the visitors a 50th-minute lead, but Birtley quickly hit back with an equaliser from Mark Dale. With just six minutes remaining though, Owen Peterson came up trumps for Cleadon.

Stephen Hamil gave North Shields the incentive of a 24th-minute goal at Ryhope CW, but a penalty by Shaun Godfrey quickly brought the scores level.

The Robins went 2-1 up through Martin Graham before Hamil, the former Stanley United striker, claimed his second goal.

North Shields are now just a point behind Birtley Town with four games in hand, and are firm favourites to clinch the title.

Although third, Cleadon are out of contention and Stokesley SC have a lot of ground to make up if they are to overhaul the Shieldsmen, despite putting six goals past Whitehaven, who managed just one in reply from Alex Roberts.

Niall Southall bagged a brace and failed to make it a hat-trick when he missed a penalty. Jonathan Newton also struck twice. Stokesley's other goals came from Craig Johnson and Matthew Homan.

At the bottom, Washington Nissan UK slumped to a 7-1 home defeat at the hands of Boldon CA for whom Lee Seff recorded an impressive hat-trick.

Paul Oley, Scott Baxter, Michael Meek and Graham Cairns also penetrated the Nissan defence. Ian Dodds hit a consolation for the home team.

Ferryhill Athletic are equal on points with Nissan at the bottom. They failed to convert a 30th-minute penalty award and paid the price when James Kesterton scored the only goal for New Marske.

Just one goal also decided the outcome of the game between Windscale and Jarrow. Just after the interval, Liam Bell sent in a tremendous 30-yard drive which swung late into the net to earn the Cumbrians only their seventh win of the season.

There was a flurry of goals in the last 10 minutes as Harton & Westoe defeated Wolviston 3-0.

Just as it appeared that the match would end goalless, Anthony Kent broke the deadlock with a penalty on 80 minutes.

Two minutes later he added a second before Tommy Nixon wrapped up the points for the home team.